IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-13-00127-CR
PERRY LEE RAY FORD,
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
From the 40th District Court
Ellis County, Texas
Trial Court No. 37051CR
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant Perry Lee Ray Ford was charged by indictment with the offense of
aggravated robbery. The indictment further alleged a prior felony conviction for
robbery by threat. The jury found Ford guilty and assessed a life sentence. Raising four
issues, Ford appeals.
In his first issue, Ford asserts that the trial court deprived him of representation
during his trial. In filling out his indigence affidavit for appointed counsel, Ford stated
that Jim Jenkins had previously been his court-appointed attorney and that he preferred
having Mr. Jenkins appointed to represent him. Mr. Jenkins was thus appointed to
represent Ford in May 2012.
Approximately two weeks before the March 18, 2013 trial setting, Ford sent a
letter to the district clerk stating that Mr. Jenkins was no longer his attorney because of
an alleged conflict of interest and that Ford had hired an attorney. Mr. Jenkins filed a
motion to withdraw a week before trial, and it asserted that Ford had hired an attorney
but was not aware of the attorney’s name.
In a hearing on the motion, Ford said that the conflict was that he had been
informed that he would be found guilty and given a life sentence. Ford at first said that
he had hired an attorney (one he had hired before) but refused to reveal the attorney’s
name because he had been under jail discipline and could not use the phone. Under
cross-examination, Ford said that he had not actually hired the attorney because he lost
phone privileges. He evaded answering the State’s question on whether he had talked
to his brother about getting a new attorney so he could delay going to trial.
The trial court denied the motion to withdraw, and Ford informed the trial court
that he did not want to be present at or participate in the trial because he was not being
allowed to have his chosen attorney. Mr. Jenkins, Ford’s appointed counsel, asked for a
continuance for that reason. The trial court told Ford that he could bring any attorney
to trial but that no continuance would be granted. The trial court also denied Ford’s
request to be tried in absentia. In response, Ford said that he did not want to be there
and threatened to “make a scene” in front of the jury.
When Ford next appeared in the courtroom, he had ripped open his shirt. The
Ford v. State Page 2
trial court recessed for the shirt to be repaired or replaced and told Ford that if he did it
again, he would sit in front of the jury that way. Ford then threatened to urinate and
defecate on himself. Thereafter, a detention officer testified that Ford was refusing to
put on a new shirt and that he had also ripped open his pants. Ford came into the
courtroom shirtless and with the torn shirt covering the rip in his pants that otherwise
exposed his genitals. Ford again asked for the lawyer that he allegedly had hired, and
in response to the trial court’s statement that Ford could have that alleged attorney but
could not have a continuance, Ford said that he needed “time.”
The trial court then decided that, given Ford’s previous statement that he did not
want to be present and his appointed counsel’s agreement with Ford’s desire, Ford
would be tried in absentia. Jury selection then began without Ford’s presence, and a
jury was chosen without objection.
Before trial began the next day, Ford was present in the courtroom and the trial
court advised that he would not be tried in absentia. To supplement the record, the
State offered into evidence a recorded phone call between Ford and his brother
pertaining to Ford’s plan of hiring a new attorney solely to be able to put off the trial. It
appears that Ford had a pending case in another county and that Ford was expecting a
plea bargain in that case in which he thought he could also resolve the Ellis County
case.
The trial court then reiterated that it had denied the motion to withdraw because
that would have resulted in a continuance but that Ford was still able to have any
attorney present for him at trial. Also, the trial court stated that no attorney had
Ford v. State Page 3
contacted the court on Ford’s behalf. Finally, the trial court found that Ford’s attempts
to discharge Mr. Jenkins, to hire a new attorney, and to disrupt the trial were all done to
intentionally delay the trial. Ford then complained that he had not been allowed to use
the phone to contact his family or his alleged new attorney and that he had been
“tased” when the deputies had tried to dress him in civilian clothes for trial.
Trial then commenced, and when the third witness was called to the stand, Ford
complained that he did not want to be at the trial. After another outburst by Ford in
front of the jury, the trial court stated that Ford would observe the trial by closed-circuit
monitor with regular breaks so that Ford and his appointed attorney could
communicate. The trial court also instructed the deputies to allow Ford to have phone
access to contact his alleged new attorney or family. After discussion about how Ford
was trying to manipulate a continuance, Ford’s appointed attorney stated that Ford’s
brother had called him twice before trial, first telling him that he was off the case and
they were hiring an attorney, and second, telling him that they were not going to hire
the attorney.
Ford observed the rest of the trial that day by closed-circuit monitor. Thereafter,
he was in the courtroom for the rest of the trial without apparent incident.
In his first issue, Ford argues that, because he did not want his appointed
attorney, he was not allowed his choice of counsel and that, alternatively, he was
effectively left to represent himself without proper admonishment.
Even though a criminal defendant is entitled to effective assistance
of counsel, this constitutional protection cannot be used to obstruct the
orderly procedure in the courts or to interfere with the fair administration
Ford v. State Page 4
of justice. [Dunn v. State, 819 S.W.2d 510, 520 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991)]. A
criminal defendant may not wait until the day of trial to demand different
counsel or to request that counsel be dismissed so the defendant may
retain other counsel. Robles v. State, 577 S.W.2d 699, 704 (Tex. Crim. App.
1979); Webb v. State, 533 S.W.2d 780 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976).
An indigent defendant has received the protections provided under
the Sixth Amendment when a trial court appoints an attorney to represent
him. Malcom v. State, 628 S.W.2d 790, 791 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982); Reddic v.
State, 976 S.W.2d 281, 283 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1998, pet.
denied). The defendant must accept the attorney or attorneys appointed
by the court unless the defendant can show adequate cause for
appointment of another attorney. Thomas v. State, 550 S.W.2d 64, 68 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1977); Reddic, 976 S.W.2d at 283. If a defendant is dissatisfied
with the appointed counsel the defendant must bring the matter to the
attention of the court; thus, it is the burden of the defendant to prove
entitlement to different counsel. Malcom, 628 S.W.2d at 791; Reddic, 976
S.W.2d at 283. But “[o]nce the attorney-client relationship has been
established any potential disruption of the relationship is subject to careful
scrutiny. Thus, neither the attorney nor the client may sever the attorney-
client relationship without justifying the severance to the trial
court.” Reddic, 976 S.W.2d at 282 (citing Buntion v. Harmon, 827 S.W.2d
945, 948 n.3 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (orig. proceeding)).
Long v. State, 137 S.W.3d 726, 735 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, pet. ref’d).
“A request for a change in counsel cannot be made so as to obstruct the orderly
procedure in the courts or to interfere with the fair administration of justice.” Burgess v.
State, 816 S.W.2d 424, 428 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
There are three options available to the trial court when a
defendant requests a change of counsel at the last minute before trial.
First, at its discretion the court can appoint, or allow the accused to
retain, new counsel. Second, should the trial court deny new
counsel, and the accused unequivocally assert his right to self-
representation under Faretta [v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525,
45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975)], persisting in that assertion after proper
admonishment, the court must allow the accused to represent
himself. Third, unless the trial court allows new counsel, it must
compel an accused who will not waive counsel and does not assert
Ford v. State Page 5
his right to self-representation to proceed with the lawyer he has,
whether he wants to or not.
Long, 137 S.W.3d at 735 (citing and quoting Burgess, 816 S.W.2d at 428-29).
Ford did not want or seek to represent himself, and because the trial court denied
the motion to withdraw and Ford’s appointed counsel represented Ford at trial, the trial
court plainly chose the third option. In so doing, and with record support of the finding
that Ford was attempting to manipulate a continuance of the trial setting, the trial court
did not err or abuse its discretion. We overrule issue one.
In his second issue, Ford contends that the trial court erred in removing him
from the courtroom during jury selection in a manner inconsistent with the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments, article 1, section 10 of the Texas Constitution, and Code of
Criminal Procedure article 33.03. The State responds that Ford invited the alleged error
by his repeated statements that he did not want to be present at the trial. Gore v. State,
332 S.W.3d 669 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2010, no pet), is instructive on this issue.
The Sixth Amendment’s right of confrontation requires a defendant
threatened with the loss of liberty to be physically present at all phases of
the criminal proceedings against him absent a waiver of that right through
the defendant’s own conduct. Illinois v. Allen, 397 U.S. 337, 338, 343-44, 90
S.Ct. 1057, 25 L.Ed.2d 353 (1970). For example, a defendant may waive the
right to be present through his disruptive conduct during proceedings. Id.
at 346, 90 S.Ct. 1057. A defendant also waives this right if he voluntarily
absents himself from proceedings after trial has commenced in his
presence. Taylor v. U.S., 414 U.S. 17, 18, 94 S.Ct. 194, 38 L.Ed.2d 174 (1973).
Article 33.03 requires a defendant in a felony prosecution to be
personally present at trial. A defendant’s right to be present is
unwaivable until after the jury has been selected. Miller v. State, 692
S.W.2d 88, 91 (Tex. Crim. App.1985). After jury selection, the trial court
can continue a trial to conclusion if the defendant voluntarily absents
himself. Article 33.03.
Ford v. State Page 6
Immediately before voir dire began, Gore requested the trial court
to excuse him from being present at trial. Gore’s trial counsel reported
that he had advised his client about the importance of a defendant’s
presence but that Gore preferred to stay in jail rather than attend. Gore
stated that he had been through the process before and did not see how
his presence would help. The trial court reiterated to Gore the importance
of being present at trial and informed him that it would be in his best
interest to attend. Gore repeated his request to return to jail. Gore’s trial
counsel expressed his fear that forcing Gore to attend trial might lead his
client to act out and disrupt the proceedings. Throughout this discussion,
the State pointed out that Article 33.03 prohibited the trial court from
granting Gore’s request. Gore’s trial counsel countered that a defendant
could waive this requirement. The trial court granted Gore’s request, and
the trial continued in his absence.
Even assuming that the trial court erred by selecting a jury in
Gore’s absence, a defendant may not invite error, whether statutory or
constitutional, and then submit that error as a basis for appellate relief.
See Garcia v. State, 919 S.W.2d 370, 393-94 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); see also
Prystash v. State, 3 S.W.3d 522, 531 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) (distinguishing
the doctrines of invited error and waiver). Garcia was a death penalty
case. The trial court notified defense counsel that it was qualifying ten
prospective jurors. Counsel advised the trial court that he could not be
present, and both Garcia and his counsel stated on the record that they
had no objection to the proceedings occurring without their presence.
Garcia, 919 S.W.2d at 393. But on appeal, Garcia maintained that the trial
court deprived him of his right to be present under Article 33.03. Id. The
Court of Criminal Appeals found that Garcia was not denied this right—
he waived it. Id. at 394. Furthermore, because Garcia created the error, he
could not raise it as a basis for reversal. Id. at 393.
Gore created any error that the trial court may have committed by
granting his request to conduct the trial in his absence. He may not now
use this error to secure a reversal.
Gore, 332 S.W.3d at 671-72.
Likewise, we find that Ford created any error that the trial court may have
committed by granting Ford’s request that he not be present during jury selection. See
id.; see also Garcia, 919 S.W.2d at 393. Issue two is overruled.
Ford v. State Page 7
Ford’s third issue asserts that the trial court erred in allowing Ford to be
“tortured,” in violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual
punishment and the United Nations Convention Against Torture. This issue pertains to
Ford being “tased” and not receiving any medical care afterwards. Ford was tased after
the trial court instructed deputies to “use all reasonable measures, including any form
of restraint,” to dress Ford in civilian shirts and pants.
On appeal, Ford contends that he was subjected to excessive force (being tased)
while being changed from jail attire to civilian attire and that it was his choice to appear
in court in jail attire. Nothing in the record supports the contention that Ford wanted to
appear before the jury in jail attire, and Ford did not develop a record on the
circumstances of his being tased while his clothes were being changed or that he may
have needed medical care. The trial court was in the position to determine whether
Ford was continuing to attempt to disrupt or delay the trial. We agree with the State
that the record does not support Ford’s contention that he was “tortured.” We overrule
issue three.
In issue four, Ford contends that the trial court erred in assessing appointed
counsel’s attorney’s fees as part of the court costs because Ford was indigent. The
judgment assessed court costs in the amount of $5,588.88, but it does not reflect what
amount of that consists of attorney’s fees. In a supplemental clerk’s record that we
requested, the bill of costs reflects attorney’s fees in the amount of $5,314.88.
As noted above, Ford had appointed counsel in the trial court because of his
indigence, and he has appointed counsel in this appeal. The State concedes that the trial
Ford v. State Page 8
court did not make a finding that Ford had the ability to pay the cost of his court-
appointed attorney at trial.
Because Ford was indigent and is presumed to remain indigent absent record
proof of a material change in his circumstances, the judgment incorrectly assessed
$5,314.88 in court-appointed attorney’s fees as court costs. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC.
ANN. arts. 26.04(p), 26.05(g) (West Supp. 2013); Mayer v. State, 309 S.W.3d 552, 557 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2010); Watkins v. State, 333 S.W.3d 771, 781-82 (Tex. App.—Waco 2010, pet.
ref’d). Issue four is sustained, and we modify the judgment’s court costs by deleting
$5,314.88 from the assessed court costs of $5,588.88 for a corrected court costs amount of
$274.00.
We affirm the trial court’s judgment as modified.
REX D. DAVIS
Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Davis, and
Justice Scoggins
Affirmed as modified
Opinion delivered and filed June 26, 2014
Do not publish
[CRPM]
Ford v. State Page 9